Electric switch.



C. E. ANDERSON.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

AwLlcATloN FILED MAR.28.1918.V

1,273,7' 1 4. Patented July 23, 1918.

UNITED; sTATEs PATENT oFFIoE.

` CABLBIC ANDERSON F BBIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOIR, TO'THE BRYANT ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CON- N ECTICUT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

lSpecification of Letters IiPatent.

Patented July 23,1918.

Appiication med'nrch 2s, 191s. serial No. 225,304.

' ments in Electric Switches, `of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric switches and particularly to pushbutton switches, the object of my invention being to provide means for holding the push buttons in proper position for their most eiiicient operation and to impart a better. appearance to the switch as a whole.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure l is a section on the line 1-1, Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the switch shown in AFig. l but with the push button shanks in section;

Fig. 3 is a perspective of the push button positioning spring and portions of the push button Shanks.

In. switches of the present type, the switch mechanism is usually operated by a pair of push buttons freely jointed to ay rocker bar pivoted on a frame. Inasmuch as a certain amount of play must be permitted between the push buttons and the guides through which they work, the buttons are loosely confined thereby, with the result that when the switch is mounted on a Vertical surface, such as a side wall, the buttons sag against the sides of the guide apertures, and not only give an unworkmanllke appearance to the switch, but also lessen the efliciency of operation by bearing with more or less friction against the sides of the guide apertures. By my. resent invention, I have provided means or holding the switch buttons in proper position at all times.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated a switch of the type described in my co-pending application, Serial No. 174,743, filed June 14, 1917 but it will be understood that the invention may be applied with equal facility to switches of other construction, and I do not limit my invention to this precise mechanism. As here shown, however, the switch comprises a cup-shaped base 10 of insulating material,

carrying at its opposite ends wire terminal straps 11 and 12 for the binding screws 13 and 14. Switch terminals 15 and 16 are secured to the respective straps 11 and 12, and are engaged by the switch blade 17 in the on position of the switch, as indicated in Fig. 1. Mounted on the base of the chamber is a frame 18 provided with bosses 19 on which the switch blade 17 pivots. The top of the gable of the frame is notched at 20 to form a bearing for the rocker bar v21 operatively connected to the switch blade 17 throughl the switch spring 22. The opposite ends of the rocker bar 21 are notched at 23 and 24 to form bearings engaged by the st-uds 25 and 26 at the inner ends of the Shanks 27` and 28 of the push buttons 29 and 30. The features described are disclosed in my co-pending application above mentioned, the construction of which lis utilized merely to indicate, in a general way, the type of switch to which my present invention relates.

The push buttons 29 and 30 are guided by passing through holes -in the yoke 31, which are sufiiciently large to permit the free play of the push buttons therein. This play is practically necessary in order to accommodate the push buttons freely and to permit a yoke of standard dimensions to be used" irrespective of the variation which unavoidably occurs in the iiring of the porcelain base. This enlargement of the guide holes permits the sagging of the buttons from a position at right angles to the plane of the yoke, in a manner well known in practice and fairly' illustrated in such patents as Platt 1,193,606. To obviate this defect, I now provide a spring plate 32 having studs 33 which overlie the studs 21a of the rocker bar in the 'bearing notches 20 in the gable of the frame, while its opposite ends have cross'grooves 34 and 35,f in which are engaged the lower ends of the Shanks 27 and 28 of the push buttons. The constant pressure of this spring bar against the lower ends o f the Shanks of the push buttons forces the bearing studs 25 and 26 thereof against the upper surfaces of thenotch bearings 23 and 24 in the ends of the rocker bar 21, and consequently holds the buttons in rightangular position with relation to the yoke 31 and the faceplate 36.

By thus maintaining the push buttons constantly at right angles to the face plate, their free passage through the holes therein and in the oke 31 is assured. At the same time, awor anlike appearance is imparted to the switch which is lacking when the butl tons are vfree to take various angular positions with relation to the faceplate and make loose joint with the rocker bar.

1. In a push button switch, an oscillating switch bar, an oscillating rocker bar, a switch spring operatively interposed between the same, 'a pair of switch buttons loosely pivoted to said rocker bar on opposite sides of its axis, and auxiliary spring means for holding said push buttons in proper operating position.

2. Ina push button switch, an oscillating switch bar, an oscillating rocker bar, a switch spring operatively interposed between the same, a face plate covering the switch mechanism, a pair of switch buttons passing through said face plate and loosely pivoted to said rocker bar on opposite sides of` its axis, and auxiliary spring means for holding said push buttons substantially at right angles to the plane of the face plate.

3. In a push button switch, an oscillating rocker bar, a pair of push-buttons loosely pivoted to said rocker bar, and a spring strap bearing at its opposite ends against the inner ends of the push buttons to maintain the latter in proper operating position.

4. In a push button switch, an oscillating rocker bar, a pair of push buttons loosely pivoted to said rocker bar, and a pivoted spring strap bearing at its opposite ends against the inner ends of the push buttons to maintain thelatter in proper operating position.

5. In a push button switch, an oscillating rocker bar, a pair of push buttons loosely pivoted to said rocker bar, and a spring strap pivoted on the axis of the rocker bar and bearing at its opposite ends against the inner ends o the push buttons to maintain the latter in proper operating position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

CARL ERIC ANDERSON. 

